Hydraulic floor crane



April 13, 1954 J. o. FREED 2,675,209

HYDRAULIC FLOOR CRANE Filed NOV. 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zzz/mz/me fo/m/ 0. 5:50

Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,675,209 HYDRAULIC FLOOR CRANE John 0. Freed, St. Louis Park, Minn. Application November 29, 1951, Serial No. 258,954

7 Claims.

This invention relates to portable hydraulic floor cranes and more particularly to that type of crane which may be manually operated and handled by one or two men for lifting and transporting heavy equipment, vehicles and so forth.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide for a floor crane which will have extreme versatility, being light in weight but still adapted to perform under heavy duty operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide for a portable hydraulic floor crane capable of performing heavy duty operation which is easily and efiiciently collapsible from its normal unwieldly bull; to a closely compacted unit for crating and transporting from place to place.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for an adjustable floor crane having means associated with. a longitudinal side of its standard for adjustably and pivotally cooperating with its cantilever arm, which means may also be utilized for adjustably and pivotally cooperating with the power mechanism for actuating the cantilever arm and to fix the cantilever arm in collapsed relation. with the standard; and having similar means associated with the lower portions of the standard to fix the standard in upright relation with the base of the crane, to pivot the standard with relation to the base, and to fix the standard in flattened relation with the base.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide for a heavy duty floor crane having a base with a standard pivotally mounted thereon whereby the standard together with its boom arm may be manually collapsed to an over-all height less than the width of the base and having roller elements associated with the side of the base for manually transporting the crane when tipped upon its side through areas of restricted width and for storing the crane when not in use against a wall or in other unutilized small areas.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which;

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of my hydraulic crane with certain sections of the box girder cut away to show the internal structure thereof, and a dotted line representation of the boom and hydraulic ram pivoted at another of the plurality of possible positions; a

Fig. 2 shows my hydraulic crane in side elevation and collapsed to a short over-all height;

Fig. 31s a side elevation of the hydraulic crane tuted for the hook collapsed as in Fig. 2 and upturned upon the side rollers;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the hydraulic ram dissociated from other members of the crane;

Fig. 5 shows a dolly wheel and spindle which is utilized to balance the crane when in the position shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of my hydraulic crane in which an upstanding cradle is substielement and a spacing arm maintains the cradle in vertical condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, my invention comprises a supporting structure indicated generally by theletter S which includes the base element and a standard H attached thereto. The base l0 may be formed in a U-shape as seen in Figs. 1 and 3 with elongated legs l2 and I3 having journaled therein a wheel M at the outer extremity of leg l2 and wheel i at the outer extremity of leg [3. At the closed end of the U-shaped base 10 is a flanged mounting element 16 having at its outer extremity a bearing ll. Journaled in the bearing ii is the spindle l8 which is attached to the forked member [9 in which is journaled caster wheel 2&3. Pivotally attached to the spindle I8 is a handle 2i having a cross grip 22 at the outer extremity thereof for pulling and steering the entire crane.

The legs l2 and [3 of the base ID are of box girder construction for lightness and strength with web members 23 secured as by welding within the structure of the leg. The web structure 23 extends throughout the base including the opposite elongated leg l3. In the side of the leg l2 are rectangular openings 24 and 25 across which are journaled roller wheels 26 and 27. These rollers extend laterally beyond all other projections on the side of the base I0 so as to maintain a clearance between the base Hi and a floor surface it as shown in Fig. 3. The flanged mounting element It comprises two fiat plates or flanges 2t and 3d which are in spaced parallel relation with each other. Flanges 3| and 32 may be secured to the flanges 29 and 30 and to the base member it as by welding to furnish additional bracing for the mounting element It. Openings 33, 8t, 35, tit and 31 are placed in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 through the flange 25) and similarly disposed openings are placed oppositely through the flange 30.

The standard II is constructed or a box girder having internal webbed bracing 38, disposed similarly to the bracing in the U-shaped base Iii, for strengthening the standard when subjected to high stress. The sides 39 and 49 of the standard extend forwardly of the box girder to form a channel therewith and have associated along the edges thereof cooperative means for adjusting the height of pivot connections as will be presently described. These cooperating elements are preferably formed as openings 4| in side 39 and openings 42 in side 4!] of the standard II. I have found it particularly useful to have the openings 4| spaced equally along the channeled edge of side. 39 with the openings 42 in the side 40 oppositely corresponding to the openings M. The lowermost of the openings 4| and 42 in the standard H are adapted to align with openings 36 in the supporting flanges 29 and'ilfl. Pivot pin 43 extends across the openings and may be held in position by a cotter pin or snap key 44. The arrangement described thus far allows the standard H to pivot about pin 43 so as to assume any position ranging from the upstanding form shown in Fig. 1 to the horizontal form shown in Fig. 2. For close clearance with the base the corners of sides 49 and 39 have been rounded as shown in dotted line representation in Fig. 2 at 45. In the standard ll openings are aiigned with o enings in the mounting element It. In the upright position shown in Fig. 1 a pin 4'! bearing a snap ring 48 may be placed therein through openings 31. to secure the standard ll against pivotal rotation about the pin 43. One each of the openings at the lower end of the standard I! will also align with correspending openings 35, 31 and 33 through the mounting flanges [6. Where ultimate strength is desired during the hoisting operation pins 4s, 58 and 5i may also be placed in their corresponding openings. Where it is again desired to' lower the standard i! all the pins may be removed from the flanged element It with the exception of pivot pin 43 about which the standard II can swing. When it is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 2 one of the securingpins may be replaced as at through a newly aligned set of openingsso as to maintain the standard ll in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2.

A cantilever arm or boom 6!! may be pivotally mounted at one of many preselected vertical positions on standard H by means such as pivot pin 63 extending between an opening '4! and a corresponding opening 42 in the standard H. The cantilever boom may be pivoted at an upper position at the standard 'II when it is desired to raise a load to a considerable height above the floor and may be pivoted at a lower point on the standard when load for a shorter distance. The cantilever boom 60, like the base ID and the standard I l, is formed of box girder construction having webbed members 6| welded or otherwise secured to the inner walls of the box structure. Similarly to the standard H the sides of the boom 60 may extend outwardly to form a channel arrangement across which cooperating means such as holes 62 may be aligned, the end opening nearest the standard being adapted to cooperate with the pivo't pin 63 mounted across one set of the openings 4l-42 in standard l'l; At the outermost portion of the cantilever boom 60 is positioned a grasping member which may be book 64 secured by pin 65 to the boom BB. Disposed between one of the oppositely disposed pairs of openings 52 in the cantilever boom '60 and one of the pairs of oppositely disposed openings 4l-42 in standard H is a hydraulic ram element-B6 which comprises a sleeve 61 and a plunger 68' as shown separately in detail in Fig. 4. At the outer end of sleeve e1- it is desired to lift the is a bearing 69 and at the outer end of plunger 68 is a similar bearing member 10. When mounted in the position shown in Fig. l pivot pin it connects the plunger 68 through its bearing it! with the cantilever boom as and pivot pin l2 connects the bearing 69 of sleeve ii! to one of the pairs of openings in the boom H. A tubular connector 13 extends from a source of hydraulic power 14 as shown in Fig. 3 to the sleeve 61 for fluid communication therewith so as to extend the plunger 58 when fluid is admitted to the inside of sleeve 61. Conversely as the fluid is allowed to flow or seep back through the connector 13 the plunger 68 will again retract into the sleeve 6'! under the weight of boom 60 and such additional weight as may be added thereto. It is found useful to space openings 62 equally along the length of the cantilever boom and to have in addition to the pivot connection between the boom and standard, at least one more of the oppositely disposed pairs of openings 62 correspond with a pair of openings on the standard l l. When thus arranged I may remove the hydraulic ram element at or remove one of the pins ill or 12 so as to position the ram within the channel formed by the sides of cantilever boom 6% or the channel formed by sides 39 and as of the standard H whereby the rain will be out of the way when the boom Ed is folded within the channel of the standard H. When thus folded together the boom 50 may be held securely against the standard H by inserting a pivot pin 15 through corresponding openings as shown in Fig. 2. In order to collapse the entire standard together with its boom the supporting pins such as at 48, 49, 50 and iii may be removed and the standard may be pivoted about the pin 43 as previously described to collapse the structure as shown in Fig. 2. Handle 2! then may be pivoted on spindle l8 so as to lie closely upon the standard I l and the entire height then becomes substantially less than the width of the base it across arms [3 and I2. In order to transport the hydraulic crane from one room to another through narrow openings such as doorways or between machinery in a congested room I may tip the entire device sideways upon the rollers 26 and N as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the rollers 2'6 and 21 engage the surface of the floor 28 so as to maintain clearance between the floor and all other portions of the hydraulic crane. While thus resting on the rollers 25 and 2! the crane may be easily moved about by manual means and can be transported within restricted areas through which previous heavy duty hydraulic cranes could not conceivably pass. While remaining in this collapsed and sideways condition the crane may be stored in a restricted area or may be moved out of the way and placed against a wall area. Since many repair shops, machine shops and factories have space problems, the collapsible feature of my hydraulic crane will assist in achieving mobility of the crane unit without requiring passageways to be cleared within the area. In order to stabilize the crane when tipped sideways on the rollers 26 and 21 I may provide a dolly wheel it which is journaled across a fork Tl attached to a spindle 18 having a reduced outer extremity '59 with proper dimensions to cooperate with an oppositely disposed pair of openings 46 as shown in Fig. 2 to form the stabilized narrow structure with the dolly attached as shown in Fig. 3. A cotter pin may be inserted through an opening in the reduced portion 19' so as to maintain the entire dolly in position while the hydraulic crane is being transported on its side.

The modification shown in Fig. 6 comprises a cradle 90 which is pivoted at 94 to the cantilever oom 60 at its outer extremity in place of the grasping hook 64 previously described. A spacing bar 9| is pivoted to the cradle member 90 at 92 and at its other end is pivoted at 93 to one of the openings associated with the standard I I. For best results the distances from the pivot 92 to the pivotal connection 94 between the cradle and the cantilever beam should be substantially the same as the distance between the pivot 93 and the pivot 95 connecting the cantilever boom with the standard ll. Since this arrangement is especially adapted to raising vertical axles, tires and so forth, it is essential that the cradle 90 becapable of extending downwardly to a point close to the floor. I have'found it useful to employ additional clevis or flange members 96 and 91 which are welded or otherwise secured to the inside of the closed end of U-shaped base l and which contain openings oppositely disposed at 98 and 99 as shown in Fig. 1 for the purpose of pivoting the bearing 69 of hydraulic ram 61 at a lowermost position suitable for extending and retracting the cantilever arm 60 when used in connection with the cradle element 90. It is understood, of course, that where a higher position is desired with respect to the standard I l the bearing 69 of the hydraulic ram 61 may be pivoted at any one of the openings spaced along the channeled edge of standard I I.

It will be noted that some of the openings associated with the standard and with the cantilever boom as well as the mounting element It may be utilized for several different purposes and in several difierent manners. Thus the pin 59 as shown in Fig. 2 may be employed to maintain the standard II in collapsed condition as there shown or may serve to maintain the standard in upright condition after having been pivoted about pin 43. The same pin 59 may likewise serve as a pivot to cooperate with the bearing 69 of the hydraulic ram or, if so desired, may serve as the pivot point for the inner end of the boom 60 itself. In a similar manner pin 15 in the position shown in Fig. 2 may serve as a pivot for the cantilever boom 60 or may serve as a retaining pin for holding the boom in collapsed condition in conjunction with the pivot pin as at 63. A still further purpose of the same openings in the standard H is the pivoting of spacing arm 9| as at 93 in the modification shown in Fig. 6, and the use of openings 46 in the standard to cooperate with openings 34 and pin 41 in operative hoisting position and to cooperate with the dolly 16 when in collapsed condition shown in Fig. 3.

It may thus be seen that I have devised a heavy duty floor crane which has a novel arrangement of parts such that cooperative positioning means may be utilized for several functions some of which are associated with the prime function of lifting and lowering heavy loads and others of which are associated with collapsing and maintaining the entire crane structure in collapsed condition for storing and transporting in restricted spaces.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A portable floor crane comprising a supporting structure including a. base and a standard pivotally attached to said base, a cantilever boom pivotally attached at vertically adjustable positions on said standard, means pivotally secured to said boom from a point forwardly of the pivotal attachment of said boom to said standard, said means interconnecting with said standard at a vertically adjustable position other than that of the pivotal connection between said boom and said standard for radially operating said cantilever boom in a vertical plane, and releasable means for retaining said standard in rigid upstanding relation with said base element during operation of the crane, and for retaining said standard in rigid reclining relation with said base.

2. In a heavy duty portable floor crane having an elongated horizontal base element and attached thereto an upstanding standard pivotally bearing a boom member thereon, pin means releasable for pivotally collapsing said standard and said boom member to compact relation with said elongated base, and roller means disposed at the side of said crane for transporting the compacted crane when tipped sideways thereon across areas of restricted width.

3. In a heavy duty floor crane having a U- shaped base element, an upright standard mount ed at the closed portion of said U-shaped base, said standard being substantially greater in height than the width of said U-shaped base element and pivotally bearing a boom member, pin means releasable for swingably collapsing said standard and said boom member to a rigidly secured position substantially centrally of the legs of said U-shaped base element whereby the overall height of the collapsed crane will be substantially less than the width between the legs of said U-shaped base element.

4. A portable floor crane for raising and lowering heavy loads comprising, a supporting structure including a base element and an upstanding standard having a series of equally spaced openings disposed along one edge thereof, a cantilever boom pivotally connected to said standard selectively at one of said openings, an upstanding cradle element pivotally mounted upon the outer portion of said cantilever boom, a spacing arm substantially parallel to said cantilever boom pivotally interconnecting said upstanding cradle arm and said standard at an opening adjacent to and constantly spaced from the pivotal connection between said cantilever arm and said standard, and extensible and retractable means pivotally interconnecting said cantilever boom at the other side thereof with said supporting structure for elevating and lowering said upstanding cradle together with a heavy load positioned thereon.

5. A heavy duty portable floor crane comprising an elongated base element, a standard pivotally mounted thereon and having an operative upright height substantially greater than the width of the base element, a boom member pivotally attached to said standard and adapted to swing in a vertical plane overlying said elongated base element, pin means rigidly securing said standard to the base element and releasable to permit swingable collapsing of said standard to a position in close clearance with said elongated base, and other pin means for retaining said boom member in closely underlying relation with said standard in its collapsed position whereby the crane may be reduced to an over-al1 inoperative height substantially less than the width of said base element while retaining the operative pivotal attachment between said boom and said standard.

6; A heavy duty portable floor crane comprising an elongated base element. a standard, pivotally mounted thereonand having an. operative height substantially greater than. the width. of the base element, a boom member pivotally attached to said standard and adapted to swing in a vertical plane overlying said elongated base-element, inmeans rigidly securing. said standard on its pivotal mount in upright relation with said base element and releasable. to permit swingable collapsing of said standard about its pivot connection to a position in substantially parallel relation with said. elongated base, said pin means beinglikewise adaptable. to rigidly securing said standard to the base element in its collapsed position, and other pin means for retaining said boom member in closely underlying relation with said standard in its collapsed position whereby the crane may be reduced to an over-all inoperative height substantially less than the width of said base element while retaining the operative pivotal attachment both between said boom and said standard. and between said standard and sai base.

7. A heavy duty portable floor crane comprising an elongated base element, a standard pivotally mounted thereon and having. an operative height substantially greater than. the width of the base element, a boom member pivotally attached to said standard and adapted to swin in v i cal plane overlying said elongated base element, pin means rigidly seouring'said standard to the base. element. and releasable to permit swingable collapsing of said standard to a position in close clearance withsaid elongated base, further pin means for retaining said boom member in closely underlying relation with said standard in its collapsed position, and roller means rotatably mounted at a side of the elongated base element whereby the. collapsed crane, when tilted on its side With. said rollers portably supporting the weight thereof, will have a widthv substantially less than the height thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,994,783 Pfauser Mar. 19, 1935 2,023,790 Ormsby et al Dec. 10, 1935 2,113,879 Delalandre Apr. 12, 1938 2,389,872 Huger et a1 Nov. 27, 1945 2,549,120 Ormsby Apr. 17, 1951 

